Olympiakos vs Qarabag FK: UEFA Europa League League Phase Matchday Eight Preview

By Stephen Kountourou

UEFA Europa League League Phase Matchday Eight: 30/01/25

Kick-off Time: 22:00 Greek Time

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium

Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 3 HD

Sometimes, you have to give credit where credit is due for an idea you initially thought was awful but, after seeing it in action, makes you have a change of heart. That was the new league phase format for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. 

Upon hearing of the change from the long-established group stages to one league spanning eight games, and in the Conference League’s case six, I immediately disliked the idea as it felt as though it would only be implemented to benefit the elite and wealthy clubs of European football and help them qualify for the knockout stages easier. If it aint broke don’t fix it. 

For the last six months, however, I was pleasantly surprised, for the new format has offered perhaps a needed change, excitement, upset and surprises for the most part. Of course, most football fans will be focusing on the Champions League, the crowning jewel of UEFA, and it has been hugely successful so far. But the Europa League has gone under the radar for how competitive it has been, even with only one game left to play. 

Conference League holders Olympiakos in particular still have something to play for going into matchday eight. With the playoffs secured, there is still the small chance of a top-eight finish and a place in the Europa League round of 16, albeit with Thrylos needing to win by more than one goal and needing other results to go in their favour,  it is one that the club has sighted as the main goal for the final match at the Karaiskakis Stadium this Thursday. 

Their opponent, Qarabag FK, is one that some players will be familiar with, having previously embarrassed the Piraeus side in front of their home fans in the recent past. With one match left to play, perhaps getting as high as possible in the table will not be the only objective against the Azerbaijani side, who are down and out of Europe mathematically already.  

Last time in the UEL

Olympiakos were able to snatch their first-ever away win against FC Porto in Portugal thanks to a late strike from Ayoub El Kaabi. The first half ended up being as cagey a game with both sides being too careless and neither able to create many clear-cut chances from the resulting counterattacks. 

After the break, the game opened up a bit more but it still looked as though Thrylos were heading towards their fourth draw of the League Phase, and their third without scoring. The backline was excellent throughout with Karmo and Retsos easily cancelling out any attempt from the host to penetrate their box with Ortega and Rodinei too being very active on the flanks.  

With 11 minutes of normal time left, Mouzakitis flitted past two Porto players in the box to find an unmarked El Kaabi. The Moroccan slotted home to put Olympiakos ahead and, in doing so, became the club's all-time goal scorer. Mendilibar’s team saw out the famous win to qualify for the Europa League playoffs with one game to spare.

Qarabag by contrast, have had a poor Europa League campaign and went into their most recent fixture against FCSB having only won once and lost five games and on the verge of elimination. 

At first, it looked as though the Azerbaijani champions would not go down without a fight. Throughout the first half, Qarabag went ahead twice only two conceded minutes later both times and found themselves drawing 2-2 at halftime.

Rather than finding only their second win of the campaign, it was the travelling side who struck with the winner. Adrian Sut who scored FCSB’s first equaliser, scored his second to make it 2-3 and dump Qarabag out of the Europa League altogether.

League results 

Thrylos hosted arch-rivals Panathinaikos in the derby of eternal enemies in Piraeus, in a game that, as always, is never too far from controversy. Thrylos started the better of the two sides and went ahead in the first half thanks to a header to David Carmo via a set piece. 

A controversial red card resulted in Costinha being sent off after VAR overturned the referee’s initial decision which put Olympiakos down to ten men. This did not quash Mendilibar’s men's motivation to win, however, and they still looked the better of the two sides after the break. 

Panathinaikos found their way back to getting a result after a penalty was given in their favour and Fotis Ioannidis slotted home past Kostas Tzolakis to equalise, with the match ending in a stalemate and the host still top of the table by four points. 

Qarabag, unlike their form on the European stage, is comfortably top of the Azerbaijan Premier League and is on course to win a fourth successive title. They did suffer only their second loss of their league campaign against 4th place Turan Tovuz however. 

The champions went a goal up in the seventh minute and were ahead through the end of normal time. Two goals in added time from the away side shocked Qarabag to defeat at home.

Previous encounters

Fans of the Conference League champions will remember their previous encounter with Qarabag all too well. 

In an already disastrous 2022/23 Europa League campaign, Olympiakos were embarrassed in Piraeus to a 0-3 loss in which all three goals were scored in quick succession in the second half to cap off one of the most embarrassing defeats in the club's history. 

The return game at the Azersun Arena ended 0-0, which by contrast to other performances in that particular group stage campaign, was one of the less bad results.

Pressure still to win on all fronts

Even with the knowledge that Olympiakos has at the very least secured the Europa League playoffs, the pressure is still on Jose Luis Mendilibar and the players to fight on all fronts going into the season's latter stages. 

Qarabag, while in poor form in Europe, still poses a threat, especially with previous results against the travelling side that could pose more of a physiological hurdle than a physical one for Thrylos. 

On top of that, there will surely be decisions about rotation for the game coming up against Levadiakos, as winning that game will be vital to Olympiakos either remaining four points clear or extending their gap at the top of the Greek Super League table in their bid to return the title to Piraeus in the 100th anniversary season. 

Whichever way you look at it, a successful Europa League League Phase campaign will be capped off nicely with a victory, providing Olympiakos don’t put all their eggs in one basket and their eyes on all competitions.

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football